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bland - 5 dictionary results

bland

  [bland]
Use bland in a Sentence
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. pleasantly gentle or agreeable: a bland, affable manner.
2. soothing or balmy, as air: a bland southern breeze.
3. nonirritating, as food or medicines: a bland diet.
4. not highly flavored; mild; tasteless: a bland sauce.
5. lacking in special interest, liveliness, individuality, etc.; insipid; dull: a bland young man; a bland situation comedy.
6. unemotional, indifferent, or casual: his bland acknowledgment of guilt.
Origin:
1590–1600; < L blandus of a smooth tongue, pleasant, soothing

Related forms:
blandly, adverb
blandness, noun

Synonyms:
1. affable, mild, amiable; suave, urbane. 2, 3. soft, mild.

Antonyms:
1. cruel; boorish. 2. harsh. 3. irritating.

Bland

  [bland]
–noun
James A(llen), 1854–1911, U.S. songwriter and minstrel performer.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To bland
bland   (blānd)   
adj.   bland·er, bland·est
  1. Characterized by a moderate, unperturbed, or tranquil quality, especially:
    1. Pleasant in manner; smooth: a bland smile.
    2. Not irritating or stimulating; soothing: a bland diet.
    3. Exhibiting no personal worry, embarrassment, or concern: told a series of bland lies.
    4. Dull and insipid: a bland little drama.
    5. Having little or no distinctive flavor: bland cooking.
    1. Dull and insipid: a bland little drama.
    2. Having little or no distinctive flavor: bland cooking.

[Latin blandus, caressing, flattering; see mel-1 in Indo-European roots.]
bland'ly adv., bland'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Bland

Bland\, a. [L. blandus, of unknown origin.]

1. Mild; soft; gentle; smooth and soothing in manner; suave; as, a bland temper; bland persuasion; a bland sycophant. "Exhilarating vapor bland." --Milton.

2. Having soft and soothing qualities; not drastic or irritating; not stimulating; as, a bland oil; a bland diet.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : bland
Spanish: de sabor imperceptible, insípido,
German: mild,
Japanese: 口当たりのよい
More Translations »

bland 
1661, from It. blando "delicate," or O.Fr. bland "flattering," both from L. blandus "mild, smooth," probably from PIE *mldu- "soft."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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